Seasonal Christmas Menu 2011

Private Dining Room

-Cauliflower veloute, truffled Vacherin croquette, watercress and caper salad

-Portland crab, heritage beetroot puree and powder, pea shoots, parsley oil, soft-boiled hens egg

-Chicken liver and foie gras parfait, pickled rhubarb, grilled pannettone, trompette de morte

Smoked Alresford partridge, artichoke puree, crisps, malt dressing

-Roasted saddle of Royal venison, rolled in coffee, pumpkin puree, black pudding cigar, ruby kale, rosemary

-Braised pigs cheeks in Stowford cider, roasted apple and pancetta mash, button onions, pied mouton, salsify, apple crisps

-Fillet of wild halibut, crab bisque, basil and potato puree, sprouting broccoli

-Pithivier of swiss chard and wild mushrooms, grilled onions, puy lentils, red wine dressing

-Valrhona chocolate tart, peanut butter ice cream, caramelized banana, coconut espuma

 -Stem ginger pannacotta, quince jam doughnuts, roast chestnut puree

-Tonka bean yoghurt, Mulled fruits, sloe gin espuma, pan d’epice

 -Artisan cheese board, with bramble jelly and biscuits

£45.00

This menu will be running through December for private parties of 10 – 16 guests only.

All menu choices to be pre ordered by the 16th Of November

Menu subject to market changes

£10 Deposit per person required to confirm the reservation

A discretionary 10% service charge will be added to your final bill

http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/style/food/Eating_Out/article318152.ece

You have to subscribe to see the page, but some other bloggers have written up the review too.

Janet Harmer in caterersearch.com:

“Meanwhile, Lucas Hollweg of the Sunday Times enjoys eating in a circular, open-sided thatched hut outside at the Black Rat, Winchester. He particularly likes the pared down Sunday lunch menu offering just three starters, three mains and three puds. “It’s the sort of menu I generally like, too much choice sending me into a spin of indecision,” he explains.”

http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2010/06/21/333872/joel-antunes-and-tom-aikens-fall-foul-of-the-critics.htm

and

The Sunday Times, 20 June
Lucas Hollweg enjoys a good value lunch at The Black Rat, Winchester

My smoked ham-hock terrine with Agen prunes was an exemplary bit of pigginess: meaty, robust and shot through with grain mustard; the prunes, plump but not too sweet, a good contrast to the chunky pork. It came with nothing more than a slice of toast and a pile of leaves. The other starter on the list was buffalo mozzarella with peach and mint. I’m not entirely sure where they found a decent peach in May, but the thought, at least, was right for this scorching day. Our main courses were similarly ungimmicky: classic flavours cooked with care, but without unnecessary adornment. Lucie had a plump chargrilled leg from a farmed rabbit (wild tends to be small and sinewy), the smooth, lean muscle offset by a gentle mustard sauce, a blob of pea purée – thankfully, the only cheffy smear in the meal – spring-green hash, peas, pea shoots and a scattering of roast spring onions. My own main course was a small grilled mackerel, served on the bone, with lentils, tomato, salad leaves and a green herb sauce. (Three courses, 2 glasses of Prosecco, half bottle of Chablis and a glass of Beaujolais, about £80. Rating: food 4/5, atmosphere 3/5).

http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2010/06/21/333854/whats-on-the-menu-a-round-up-of-the-latest-restaurant-reviews.htm

Guide Girl in her weekend’s restaurant reviews round up of  What the Critics Say

“Lucas Hollweg of The Sunday Times enjoys eating in a circular, open-sided thatched hut outside at The Black Rat in Winchester. He particularly likes the pared down Sunday lunch menu offering just three starters, three mains and three puds. “It’s the sort of menu I generally like, too much choice sending me into a spin of indecision,” he says.”

http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/guide-girl/2010/06/what-the-critics-say—a-round-up-of-the-weekends-restaurant-reviews-21.html

-Foie gras and apple

-Huntsham Farm ‘Middle White’ fried brawn and crispy ears with wild garlic soup

-Fried monkfish livers, Jersey Royals, watercress, lemon, caper berries and brown butter

-Roasted calves sweetbreads, chanterelle mushrooms, Secretts Farm asparagus, Cabernet Sauvignon

-‘Blackface’ Highland hogget, slow roast breast, Grilled tongue and haggis choux farci with Savora mash and Chantenay carrots

- ‘Spotted Dick’, Sauternes poached pear, star anise, crème freiche sorbet

-Black Rat ‘digestif’

6 course tasting menu- £37.50
Optional wine pairing – £25.00

Reservations only

Menu open to change depending on market conditions
This will be the only menu served on the night

The huts each have a central table and seating around them. And have screens you can pull down for privacy or if your feeling a little chilly on a late evening their is a heater in the roof.

Someone asked on the phone about the African huts while we were bilding them and though the look straight out of a safari there has been no style change to our fine menu we still serve fine modern British cusine.

We also welcome guests who aren’t dining with us but would like to try are wine menu to feel free to use the bar. The wine list has some 80 wines with a balance between Old and New World, and with coffee and other spirits also avaliable.

The Black Boy has a group as well for people who like a drink or two, round the corner.

Please use the testimonials section to leave us your comments and reviews. What was your favorite dish or wine and would you recommend the black rat to your friends?

Also do you have any stories of good nights out or special occasions that enjoyed a meal with us. We also have a flickr.com account if you want to send us any photos, use the tag ‘theblackrat’ or email them to us at restaurant@theblackrat.co.uk

So once you have visited come back here and let us and other people know about it, and we hope you enjoyed your visit and will see you again soon.

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